Skip to content

Vaccinate now, because flu season’s getting worse: BCCDC

Getting vaccinated now means you'll be protected by Christmas
flu
A volunteer gets a free flu shot at a media event in Richmond on Thursday

If you haven’t got your flu vaccine already, you should get it right away.

That’s the advice the BC Centre for Disease Control is giving British Columbians, warning that influenza activity is increasing heading into the holidays.

“Our monitoring suggests the influenza epidemic will coincide with the festive period in a couple of weeks,” said Dr. Danuta Skowronski, influenza lead at the BCCDC. “Since it takes about two weeks for the influenza vaccine to induce protection, now is the time for high-risk individuals and their close contacts to get vaccinated, if they haven’t already.”

This year, the major kind of virus the BCCDC is detecting is an H1N1 influenza. That type tends to target children and non-elderly adults, as opposed to the H3N2 influenza A virus common last year that is hardest on the elderly.

Where to get vaccinated in Richmond

In Richmond, there are several places to get vaccinated.

Vancouver Coastal Health Clinics

Richmond's Vancouver Coastal Health flu shot clinics require an appointment and are available for families with young children only. Call 604-233-3126 for more information or to book an appointment.

Pharmacies

Shoppers Drug Mart

Save on Foods

London Drugs

Loblaws

Price Smart

Costco

Pharmasave

Medicare Pharmacy

Ackroyd Pharmacy

Medisave Pharmacy

Super Grocer & Pharmacy

For more information including other locations to get the flu shot around the the Lower Mainland, visit Immunize BC's website.